For Europegrl4jfk, a lighthearted post

[TayTay]

In another thread Europegrl4jfk wrote: "Hey, TayTay, maybe you could open an new thread for the "sexy stuff."

First of all, not a problem. We used to post these things at the drop of a hat around here. (to the deep amusement of the gentlemen callers in this group. Don't worry, they know we are a randy bunch and are, I think, deeply amused by our longings.) Second, ahm, I love posting this stuff. I think it gives Sen. Kerry a dimension to his character that could be overlooked in all of my wonky stuff. And third, I owe all the new folks around here a nice intro thread wherein they can post non-serious stuff. (We are still a bit gloomy, so we need a pick me up.)

These quotes are from a 10/18/1990 article in the Boston Globe by Steve Marantz. (Sen. Kerry was 46 yers old then.) It is entitled:
"As Opponent Keeps up Salvos, Kerry Grapples With Image."

On being single in Washington:

"On the capital social circuit, Kerry is known as something of a rake, despite his protestations to the contrary. The reputation may have been inevitable, following his separation and divorce from Julia Thorne, mother of his two daughters. Kerry, with his blue-chip upbringing, including St. Paul's School and Yale University, and impeccable manners, has something of a central casting quality to him.

"The Washington Post Style section recently anointed him the capital's 9th most eligible bachelor, offering this thumbnail sketch: 'Heartthrob of the Left. Known for unabashed ego and killer office hours; dates start at midnight. A tad forgetful -- his divorce became final four years after his separation, a fact that reportedly came as a surprise to some of his frequent companions.

"Gossip columns have linked Kerry to actresses Morgan Fairchild and Cornelia Guest, as well as Patti Davis, the daughter of President Reagan. Kerry dismisses the gossip, saying he would 'wish being father to fact.' But Sen. Kennedy, who was No 2 on the Post's most eligible list, and who socializes with Kerry, said, 'He can leave his work at the office, which is pretty healthy." (Reminder, this was 1990.)

On whether or not Kerry was a 'publicity hound'

"A White House source said that administration officials are wary about testifying before Kerry's subcommittee because he usually springs something for which they were not told to prepare. 'He'll ask a question that we couldn't possibly know the answer to,' said the source. 'He's grandstanding.'

"Other members of the Massachusetts delegation do not dismiss as unfounded Kerry's zeal for publicity.

"'Part of his problem is that he's very tall and went to Yale,' said US Rep Barney Frank, a Democrat.

"Democrat Rep. J. Joseph Moakley added: 'There's no shortage of egos around that place. The second choice of many people over there would be acting.'

"But Frank and Moakley commended Kerry for his willingness to work with them on matters ranging from public housing in Fall River to the proposed new federal courthouse in Boston."

Are you a liberal? (Yes, this was a concern in MA in 1990)

"'I do not care what anybody calls me as long as the understand what I stand for and what I care about,' said Kerry. 'If being liberal means that I want to educate kids, and don't want our kids dying in the streets of Boston because the women and infant nutrition programs aren't there, or because we do not have adequate security --if being a liberal means that we care about cleaning the water we drink and the air we breathe -- call me a liberal.'

"'But if being conservative means you want to put people into jail who violate people's security and if it means that you want to preserve the integrity of this country and what we stand for, and if it means that you want to have fiscal responsibility, which I have voted for, then call me a conservative.'

"'I really want to be judged by who I am,' he said. 'I have articulated a different kind of Democratic Party for 5 1/2 years. I've worked on trade issues, I've been at the forefront of our whole effort to compete against the Japanese and the Germans, I've had my own legislation putting us on equal footing with them in the area of advanced television. I fought for the R and D tax credit, I supported ending double taxation of dividends, which brings an increase in savings, and in 1985, when it wasn't popular and nobody knew what it meant, when it was a shock to Democrats, John Kerry stood up ... and said we need Gramm-Rudman-Hollings ... and I got criticized in this state for it."

On this the American Conservative Union did not concur. They gave Kerry "a career mark of 6, (out of 100) average for Eastern Democrats, and said it has detected no moderating trend in his votes. 'Kerry is one of the 30-35 senators we don't lobby at all,' said Bob Billings, executive director of the American Conservative Union. 'We consider him unworkable.'"

Hope you enjoyed these quotes. I found them both amusing and extremely consistent with everything I read last year.

[karynnj]

1. The "Are you a liberal" answer seems just like his 2004 answer

These are fascinating. They also are more balanced then a lot written last year. The first one is hilarious as it almost seems to make fun of the gossip - killer office hours, dates start at midnight?

In the 2nd, Kerry's not suppose to ask the administration questions they're not prepared for? Can he please surprise Bolton with lots of them? I love Frank's comment that it because he's tall and went to Yale.

[europegirl4jfk]

2. WOW ! A special thread for me!

Thanks so much, TayTay! :loveya: You made my day... or better my night. It's almost morning here and I guess "dates starting at midnight" would be perfect for me as someone who is often up all night, especially since I'm back from the USA. LOL

I suppose Kerry really hated that gossip stuff but it's very funny. Well, it isn't his fault that he's so tall though it's very convenient when you try to make him out in a crowd. I remember the day of Bush's State of the Union speech when I was always looking out for Kerry and his reactions to everything Bush said.

Thanks again! That really came at the right moment after all this talking about death (Schiavo) and illness (Pope) on CNN today.

[TayTay]

3. Ain't that the truth!

I needed a light-hearted moment myself. It's the Schiavo case and the awfulness of making that death so public and so filled with rage and misunderstanding. And the gloom of having to play so much defense against these awful people like Tom Delay. (Lord, spare me from these people, but if I don't speak up, then who will?)

Well, that plus I was kind of depressed myself with all that Bolton research. I needed a bit of balance restored as well. And I genuinely like Sen. Kerry and find him an interesting human being. (And I it tickles me no end to be able to make posts that show some of the human side. Man cannot live by wonk alone.)

Glad you liked it! I will see if I can find more quotes from the past that are worth posting.

[foreverdem]

4. Wow Tay Tay!

I love this post. I love any post that shows the human side of Kerry, since he has been branded as having no personality, being aloof, all that bullcrap we put up with during the campaign.
It's nice to read stuff like this, light hearted things that take us away from all the gloom that is unfolding around us.